Paul Frankl Furniture
Born in Vienna, Paul Frankl came to the United States in 1914 as part of a wave of Central European design luminaries — among them Kem Weber, Rudolph Schindler, and Richard Neutra — who were drawn by the energy and optimism of the American scene. Prolific and protean, Frankl would go on to design furnishings that are emblematic of nearly every key stylistic chord in American modernism, from the streamlined Art Deco to free-form organic shapes.
Frankl's Skyscraper cabinets, bookcases and more — introduced in 1924 — are his earliest and best-known designs (and the work by which he is most often represented in institutions, such as New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art). Tall and narrow, the pieces have staggered shelves meant to mimic the setbacks of Manhattan office towers. A later visually expressive line — the Speed chairs and sofas, which have a raked profile suggesting motion — links Frankl to Donald Deskey, Raymond Loewy and other creators of Streamline Moderne design.
Frankl moved to Los Angeles in 1934 and luxuriated in the climate and lifestyle. His designs became lighter and simpler and found an audience among the Hollywood élite. (Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Fred Astaire were clients.) Fascinated by Asian arts, Frankl produced numerous pieces — tabletops with edges that curve upward; sofas, chairs and other seating with rattan frames — inspired by Chinese and Japanese forms and materials. In the 1940s, Frankl became one of the first designers to incorporate free-form, biomorphic shapes in his work, as well as novel upholstery fabrics such as denim and nubby wool.
Frankl biographer Christopher Long argues that the designer’s easy, elegant aesthetic had an enormous influence on movie set design. As the furniture below attests, Paul Frankl’s work is ready for its close-up.
Find vintage Paul Frankl tables, dining chairs, case pieces and storage cabinets on 1stDibs.
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Fabric, Mahogany
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1950s American Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Mahogany, Maple
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Maple
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Nickel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Nickel
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Leather, Mahogany, Maple
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood, Birch, Mahogany, Maple, Teak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Fabric, Bamboo, Foam
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Leather, Birdseye Maple, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Fir, Fabric
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Mahogany
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Maple, Cork, Lacquer
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Walnut
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Nickel
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Oak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Chrome
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Upholstery, Mahogany
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Rattan, Fabric
1950s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Maple, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Upholstery, Foam, Oak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Metal
20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Metal, Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood, Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood, Cork
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood, Cork
1950s Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Fabric, Rattan, Mahogany
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Walnut, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century American Paul Frankl Furniture
Rattan, Mahogany
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood, Cork
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1940s Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Rattan, Mahogany
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Wool, Upholstery, Wood, Tulipwood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Walnut, Lacquer
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Maple
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood, Oak, Lacquer
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Mahogany
1950s Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Wood
20th Century Biedermeier Paul Frankl Furniture
Lacquer, Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Frankl Furniture
Metal, Brass
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Frankl Furniture
Lacquer